San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Santhome, in the city of Chennai (Madras), India. It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893. The British version still stands today. It was designed in neo-Gothic style, favored by British architects in the late 19th century.
It is supposedly built atop the tomb of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, St. Thomas. It is believed that St. Thomas arrived in Kerala from Palestine in 52 A.D. The apostle is believed to have preached in Chennai (formerly Madras) between 52 A.D. and 72 A.D., when he is said to have been killed on St. Thomas Mount. About 1000 years later his remains were moved inland and a church was built close to the site of his death. The church was renovated around 16th century by the Portuguese, who took most of his remains when they left India. All that is left is his toe.
San Thome Basilica is the principal church of the Madras-Mylapore Catholic Archdiocese. In 1956, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the status of a Minor Basilica, and on February 11, 2006 it was declared as an international shrine by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. The San Thome Basilica is a pilgrimage center for Christians in India. The church also has an attached museum.
The church is known more for its religious significance than for its aesthetic appeal.
Official Site: www.santhomechurch.com
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